PSYCHODRAMA
Dr JL Moreno (1889-1974), an american psychiatrist born in Romania, invented Psychodrama and Action Methods after observing children's behavior in Vienna parks in the early 20th century. He reasoned that the interactions and relationships (including role playing) that children develop in early childhood will have a profound impact on their personality development. His basic premise is that healthy individuals have the spontaneous capacity to shift between various roles, or ways of being, depending on the situation, whereas those who are ill are stuck in a very limited number of 'sick' or 'victim' roles which prevent them from fully experiencing the spontaneity of life. A contemporary of Freud, and a strong critic of psychoanalytic theory, he argued that psychotherapy based solely on words and rational understanding was insufficient and that the ability to evaluate and modulate the patient's capacity to interact with others and to spontaneously shift roles was essential in order to regain health. Hence, the Psychodramatic and action methods that he developed are based on role plays and techniques which permit the patient to 'show' what they are experiencing rather than 'to talk about' it. By conducting a therapeutic role play, whether in individual therapy or in Group, the Psychodramatist aims to aid the patient to shift roles and perspectives, thereby developing empathy for himself and others and help contribute to the behavior change that the patient seeks.
Moreno moved to the United States in 1925 and created his Theater of Spontaneity in Beacon, NY which became a world-renowned training center. He also founded Sociometry as a way of studying societal behaviors which is often taught in Business and Management faculties around the World. In 1964, the First International Congress on Psychodrama took place in Paris. The International Association of Group Therapy and Group Process (IAGP) was formed in 1973, the year of Moreno's death, and continues to exist to this day. Psychodrama is a useful therapeutic approach to dealing with early life trauma, Addictions and certain personality disorders which do not respond well to other psychotherapeutic techniques, notably psychoanalytic / psychodynamic approaches and can be an excellent complement to Behavioral Cognitive Therapy (see references below).
Moreno's Psychodrama has given birth to several psychotherapeutic currents over the past 90 years including: Systemic (family systems) Therapy and Gestalt Therapy, which are some of the best known variants. Psychodrama is recognized by the Association Suisse des Psychothérapeutes and the Charte Suisse pour la Psychothérapie.
References in English:
Baim, C., Burmeister, J, et Maciel M. (2007). Psychodrama : Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York : Routledge.
Bartholomew, K., Henderson, A., Dutton D. (2001). Insecure Attachment and Insecure Intimate Relationships. In Christopher Clulow (Ed.), Adult Attachment and Couple Psychotherapy. London : Brunner-Rutledge, 43-62.
Blatner, Adam, (2007). The role of the meta-role : An integrative element in psychology. In Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel (Eds), (2007). Psychodrama : Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York : Routledge.
Carruth, B., editor, (2006), Psychological Trauma and Addiction Treatment. Haworth Press : Binghamton.
Daniel, S. (2007), Psychodrama, role theory and the cultural atom : New Developments in Role Theory. In Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel (Eds), (2007). Psychodrama : Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York : Routledge.
Dayton, Tian, (2005). The Living Stage. Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc.
Karp, M. (1995), An introduction to psychodrama. Counselling. 6 (4):294-298.
Kellermann, Peter Felix (1992). Focus on Psychodrama : the Therapeutic Aspects of Psychodrama. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Kellerman, Peter Felix (2000), Psychodrama with Trauma Survivors: Acting out your pain. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Kipper, David A., (2007) Reformulating psychodrama as an experiential reintegration action therapy (ERAT) : the corrective emotional approach. in Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel (Eds), (2007). Psychodrama: Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York: Routledge.
Moreno, JL., (1953) Who Shall Survive? , New York : Beacon House.
Moreno, JL (1980). Psychodrama, Volume One. Beacon NY, : Beacon House.
Plotter-Efron, Ronald (2006), Attachment, Trauma and Addiction. (p. 71-87) in Carruth, B., editor, (2006), Psychological Trauma and Addiction Treatment. Haworth Press: Binghamton.
Ruscombe-King, G. (1991). Hide and Seek: the psychodramatist and the alcoholic. In P. Holmes and M. Karp (eds), Psychodrama: Inspiration and Technique. London: Routledge.
Stanton, D., and Heath, A. Family and Couples Approaches to Treatment Engagement and Therapy (2007) p.680-690 in Lowinson, J., Ruiz, P., Millman RD, Lenagrod JG. (2005) Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Stern, DN, (1985). The interpersonal world of the infant: A view from psychoanalysis and developmental psychology. New York: Basic Books.
Verhofstadt-Denève, L., (2000). Theory and Practice of Action and Drama Techniques: Developmental Psychotherapy from an Existential-Dialectical Viewpoint. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Wilkins, P., (1999), Psychodrama, London: Sage.
© Basile Vareltzis 2012
Moreno moved to the United States in 1925 and created his Theater of Spontaneity in Beacon, NY which became a world-renowned training center. He also founded Sociometry as a way of studying societal behaviors which is often taught in Business and Management faculties around the World. In 1964, the First International Congress on Psychodrama took place in Paris. The International Association of Group Therapy and Group Process (IAGP) was formed in 1973, the year of Moreno's death, and continues to exist to this day. Psychodrama is a useful therapeutic approach to dealing with early life trauma, Addictions and certain personality disorders which do not respond well to other psychotherapeutic techniques, notably psychoanalytic / psychodynamic approaches and can be an excellent complement to Behavioral Cognitive Therapy (see references below).
Moreno's Psychodrama has given birth to several psychotherapeutic currents over the past 90 years including: Systemic (family systems) Therapy and Gestalt Therapy, which are some of the best known variants. Psychodrama is recognized by the Association Suisse des Psychothérapeutes and the Charte Suisse pour la Psychothérapie.
References in English:
Baim, C., Burmeister, J, et Maciel M. (2007). Psychodrama : Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York : Routledge.
Bartholomew, K., Henderson, A., Dutton D. (2001). Insecure Attachment and Insecure Intimate Relationships. In Christopher Clulow (Ed.), Adult Attachment and Couple Psychotherapy. London : Brunner-Rutledge, 43-62.
Blatner, Adam, (2007). The role of the meta-role : An integrative element in psychology. In Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel (Eds), (2007). Psychodrama : Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York : Routledge.
Carruth, B., editor, (2006), Psychological Trauma and Addiction Treatment. Haworth Press : Binghamton.
Daniel, S. (2007), Psychodrama, role theory and the cultural atom : New Developments in Role Theory. In Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel (Eds), (2007). Psychodrama : Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York : Routledge.
Dayton, Tian, (2005). The Living Stage. Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc.
Karp, M. (1995), An introduction to psychodrama. Counselling. 6 (4):294-298.
Kellermann, Peter Felix (1992). Focus on Psychodrama : the Therapeutic Aspects of Psychodrama. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Kellerman, Peter Felix (2000), Psychodrama with Trauma Survivors: Acting out your pain. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Kipper, David A., (2007) Reformulating psychodrama as an experiential reintegration action therapy (ERAT) : the corrective emotional approach. in Clark Baim, Jorge Burmeister and Manuela Maciel (Eds), (2007). Psychodrama: Advances in Theory and Practice. London and New York: Routledge.
Moreno, JL., (1953) Who Shall Survive? , New York : Beacon House.
Moreno, JL (1980). Psychodrama, Volume One. Beacon NY, : Beacon House.
Plotter-Efron, Ronald (2006), Attachment, Trauma and Addiction. (p. 71-87) in Carruth, B., editor, (2006), Psychological Trauma and Addiction Treatment. Haworth Press: Binghamton.
Ruscombe-King, G. (1991). Hide and Seek: the psychodramatist and the alcoholic. In P. Holmes and M. Karp (eds), Psychodrama: Inspiration and Technique. London: Routledge.
Stanton, D., and Heath, A. Family and Couples Approaches to Treatment Engagement and Therapy (2007) p.680-690 in Lowinson, J., Ruiz, P., Millman RD, Lenagrod JG. (2005) Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Stern, DN, (1985). The interpersonal world of the infant: A view from psychoanalysis and developmental psychology. New York: Basic Books.
Verhofstadt-Denève, L., (2000). Theory and Practice of Action and Drama Techniques: Developmental Psychotherapy from an Existential-Dialectical Viewpoint. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Wilkins, P., (1999), Psychodrama, London: Sage.
© Basile Vareltzis 2012
